Ever since Mel Brooks first began making fun of movie genres
it seems that form of comedy has taken hold. What started out hilarious though
ended up becoming stale and some truly bad examples were made (think of the
movies made by the group behind EPIC MOVIE). Rare gems came out like SCARY
MOVIE that then slacked off as well. So when a parody of a genre comes out that
offers something original and whacky, I'm ready to give it a watch. With
DETENTION I'm glad I did.
The movie begins with a form that hasn't been used before
that works well here. The characters now and then talk to the fourth wall, the
audience, and guide them through things happening in the film. It opens with
the most popular girl in school (and of course the bitchiest) telling us all
about her high school and the kids there while she gets ready for her day. This
is one of those girls seen on SWEET 16 who complains about not getting the
correct car on her birthday. She mentions the release of a new horror film with
a killer known as Cinderhella who then promptly shows up and dispatches of our
narrator setting the stage for the killer on the lose.
The kids at school of course do nothing but talk about her
death as we introduce them here. Riley is the odd girl out, the different girl
who talks about being a vegetarian and supports other groups yet isn't on the
popular list of school kids. Her best friend Taylor is though. Taylor's
boyfriend (the guy Riley wanted to ask out) Clapton Davis is a neer do well
teen complete with skateboard and loved by all...except the school jock who
wants to do nothing more than pound Clapton into the ground.
As the film progresses we get glimpses of the killer here
and there, several in failed attempts on the lives of our main characters. We
also get tons of laughter inspiring moments that are too many to count and too
fast to catalog. Yes, this film moves at a frighteningly fast pace but not so
much that it can't be enjoyed. And the film doesn't leave itself in the horror
genre alone, skipping along occasionally into sci fi alien invasion or time
travel storylines that tie into the main one as well.
When the group finally makes it to their actual detention
during the high school prom, things happen that are completely off the wall and
absurd. And yet it totally works. A killer in the room with them and they never
see the murder happen? A student who's been in detention for decades and yet
never ages? The reveal of how it all began years ago? Yep, it works here.
There really isn't a true category to place this film in.
It's more original than most and offers so much at that rapid pace that you
might find yourself clutching the remote so you can pause to finish laughing
while the next joke or set up is being offered. I wasn't sure what to expect
from this film but was pleasantly surprised as it played out. I was left
wanting more and finding myself hoping that those behind it are given a bigger
budget and the chance to make more movies. Anything they can come up with will
far outrank the EPIC MOVIE group who still lay claim to what little they did on
SCARY MOVIE.
Click here to order.
No comments:
Post a Comment